Every week, USA TODAY Sports hockey columnist Kevin Allen will analyze how candidates are helping or hurting their chances to make the U.S. Olympic hockey team, plus will take a brief look at the other countries. About 12 weeks remain before decisions will have to be made.

Ryan Miller's statistics are talking loudly about his intentions to play his way into the U.S. goaltending picture for the 2014 Games in Sochi.

Playing for the winless Buffalo Sabres, Miller has a 1.53 goals-against average and .963 save percentage.

Miller was the star of the 2010 U.S. team, but Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings) has blossomed into the American goaltending darling. Plus, Jimmy Howard (Detroit Red Wings) and Craig Anderson (Ottawa Senators) had better seasons than Miller in 2012-13.

Based on Quick's Stanley Cup win in 2012 and trip to the Western Conference finals last season, he is the undeniable favorite to be No. 1. That hasn't changed, even though Quick (3.18 goals-against average, .893 save percentage) has struggled early.

Howard (2.31, .915) and Anderson (1.92, .948) have played well.

Team USA general manager David Poile has said the goalies who play the best the first three months will make the team. Miller has made it clear with his play that he wants to be in Sochi.

The wild card is Tim Thomas (Florida Panthers). Coming back after a year off, he's still shaking the rust out of his game, and it's tough to know where he fits in this mix.

Injuries: Thomas has a groin pull but isn't expected to be sidelined for very long. The team did call up goalie Scott Clemmensen.

Stock rising: Chicago Blackhawks wing Brandon Saad. He had two goals and two assists in the first two games. Saad, 20, has skill and poise and has demonstrated he can skate with premium players. He might be playing his way into contention to be a fourth-liner or the 13th forward.

Stock rising II: Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. The questions are whether his offensive game will translate on the wider European ice surface and whether he is effective enough as a defender. But there is no denying his offensive skills, particularly his booming slap shot. He has four assists in his first three games.

St. Louis Blues center David Backes, left, returned after missing two December games with concussion symptoms but left his last game with an upper-body injury. He has 30 points in 35 games.
Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

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Stock rising III: San Jose Sharks forward Joe Pavelski is a lock to make the team, but with five assists in three games he's playing like he might be America's No. 1 center. Team USA is short on high-quality centers, and he's competing against Derek Stepan, Ryan Kesler, Paul Stastny and David Backes. Backes could end up playing on the wing in Sochi. Right now, Pavelski and his playmaking skills might be the USA's best option for the top line.

Stock falling: Ottawa's Bobby Ryan has been one of the USA's most productive scorers in recent years, but the Americans are deep on the wing. He needs a good start and had no goals in his first two games. While that is hardly cause for concern, Olympic decisions will be made after about 35 games this season so every game matters.

Keep an eye on: Defensemen Seth Jones of the Nashville Predators and Jacob Trouba of the Jets. At 19, they're considered unlikely to make the team. But Jones is playing 23 minutes a game and Trouba is at 22. They aren't behaving like young players.

Foreign market

If Sharks rookie Tomas Hertl is still leading the NHL in scoring in December, you can assume he'll make the Czech team. He might qualify just based on scoring six goals in his first three NHL games, including a spectacular between-the-legs shot to cap off a four-goal night Tuesday. Can you imagine his magic on the wider ice? ... Who's Finland's best NHL goalie? That's not easy to answer. In the early going, Antti Niemi (San Jose) and Tuukka Rask (Boston Bruins) have spectacular numbers. But don't count out Pekka Rinne (Nashville).